The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files
John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith
Formosa Files is the world's biggest and highest-rated Taiwan history podcast. We use an engaging storytelling format and are non-chronological, meaning every week is a new adventure - and, you can just find a topic that interests you and check out that episode...skip stuff that isn't your thing. The hosts are John Ross, an author and publisher of works on Taiwan and China, and Eryk Michael Smith, a journalist for local and global media outlets. Both Ross and Smith have lived in Taiwan for over two decades and call the island home.
Email: formosafiles@gmail.com
Email: formosafiles@gmail.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 18, 2021 • 31min
S1-E14 - Buddhism "In Action" – Taiwan's Remarkable Tzu Chi Charity Group
Tzu Chi is unique in relying on mostly laypersons instead of clergy, focusing on real-world problems instead of only the spiritual, and having an extremely open-minded attitude towards other faiths – this Buddhist group built Catholic and Protestant churches for native Taiwanese people who lost their villages in Typhoon Morakot! The story begins with a remarkable woman – then called Jun Yun – who would become Master Cheng Yen, the founder of the largest charity group in Taiwan.
Nov 11, 2021 • 24min
S1-E13 - The Orangutan Craze
As one of the four "Asian Tigers," Taiwan's economy roared in the 1980s, but free-flowing money came with downsides such as the exploitation of wild animals, including tigers.
Nov 3, 2021 • 27min
S1-E12 - The "Made in Taiwan" Miracle
U.S. economic aid to Taiwan ceased in 1965. Mostly agrarian Taiwan needed to come up with new ways to make money... and it did! From manufacturing Barbie dolls to computers, here’s the story of what many call the island’s “economic miracle.”
Oct 27, 2021 • 25min
S1-E11 - All Hail the Duck King!
Uprisings were exceptionally common over the 212 years of Qing Dynasty rule on Taiwan... but only one rebellion actually took the capital (Tainan) and led to officials fleeing for Penghu. Here's the story of Zhu Yi-gui, a duck farmer, who in 1721, became the self-declared ruler of Taiwan. His reign was short-lived but he would earn himself immortality in popular memory as the Duck King.
Oct 21, 2021 • 28min
S1-E10 - The Qing Empire Doesn't Really Want Taiwan
After the heirs of Koxinga surrender to the Qing, the imperial court isn't sure what to do with the island -- but a wily admiral convinces Emperor Kangxi to keep it. Plus: the story of the person who arguably wrote the very first Taiwan travelogue.
Oct 14, 2021 • 27min
S1-E9 - The Empire's Last Soldier
He was the last Pacific WWII holdout and a native Taiwanese from the Amis tribe... here's the remarkable story of a Japanese colonial soldier who didn't get home until the mid-1970s!
Oct 8, 2021 • 27min
S1-E8 - POWs, Bombing Raids, and Kamikazes
Initially relatively spared, as WWII in the Pacific reaches a climax, Taiwan is hit hard by advancing Allied forces. POWs in camps across the island await liberation and in modern-day Tainan, a Japanese commander assembles the first kamikaze unit on Formosa.
Note: There early episodes were recorded in a home studio, the sound quality, and the delivery of the stories (we think) has much improved since 2021.
Visit formosafiles.com for more.
Sep 30, 2021 • 28min
S1-E7 - Luzon or Formosa? - Taiwan Dodges WWII Invasion
World War II in the Pacific is coming to a close... American military top brass meet with the President to pick the island from which to launch the final attack on Japan. Taiwan -- in particular, southern Taiwan -- is a strong candidate. Hear some interesting war stories and...oh, the tale of the "Holy Bamboo" of Pingtung.
Sep 30, 2021 • 29min
S1-E6 - Big Crises on Tiny Islands
The Korean War is over, and Mao turns again to the mission of invading Taiwan. To do that, his forces will need to first take some tiny islands just off the coast of China... which is easier said than done. Here's the story of the two "Cross-Strait Crises."
Note: These early episodes were done in a home studio, sound quality has much improved since 2021.
Visit formosafiles.com for more.
Sep 25, 2021 • 26min
S1-E5 - Rioters Ransack the Taipei U.S. Embassy (1957)
A U.S. officer shoots dead a 'Peeping Tom' allegedly spying on the officer's wife as she took a shower. The subsequent trial and verdict lead to the incredible -- yet little-known -- story of riots that ransacked the US embassy in downtown Taipei... in 1957! --When the ROC and the USA were supposed to be best buddies.
